Get fit quick

Get fit quick

You may be thinking about getting fit again now bub is sleeping for longer, or you may have reached a point where you want to overhaul your fitness. In order to get fit quickly it is important to be safe, sensible and realistic.

1. Get the all clear

Before you start any new fitness programme get the all clear from your doctor. This is particularly important if you have recently given birth. Make sure that it is safe for you to exercise and take any feedback that your doctor gives you seriously. Talk to them about your goals so that you are clear on what is realistic and safe for you.

2. Be realistic

Think about what you want to achieve by getting fit and then take practical steps to make it happen. Sometimes it is good to have a specific goal to work towards, such as a short distance local fun run, or to do aqua aerobics with a local club. Make sure your fitness goals are ones that you can achieve rather than planning to run a marathon four weeks from now.

3. Be practical

With little ones in tow it can be very difficult to get to the gym or local classes. When you are planning your fitness programme you need to ensure it is one that is workable in the long term. There are plenty of exercise DVD’s that you can use at home instead and will give you a great workout. Alternatively, incorporate bub into your workout and head outdoors with them in the pram. By being practical you are creating a plan that will work in the long term.

4. Commit to it

Treat your exercise plans just like you would any other meeting or appointment. Make sure you put it in your planner and do it. Remember to try to schedule it at times that will work best for you. For instance, if bub takes a morning nap this is a good time to put on the exercise DVD and start working out. You will often find that if you plan to exercise at the end of the day that it will be too hard to do for a number of reasons. Morning time is usually best. It gets it done and you can get on with your day. By committing to your exercise programme you are maximising your chances of building up your fitness more quickly.

5. Enlist help

If you can, get your partner or friends on board with you and your fitness plan. You’ll usually work out harder if you do your exercise with someone else and are far more likely to show up to train as well. If you have other friends who have bubs try to schedule brisk walks or jogs together during the week.

6. Move it

There are plenty of great apps you can use as you work on building up your fitness. The couch to 5km is a great way to ease into a fitness programme. It will help you get your heart-rate up but at a sensible pace and ensure your long term fitness.

7. Do the hard yards first

A study from the College of New Jersey discovered that if you work harder during the first half of a workout and less so in the second half you will burn 23 percent more fat than those who do the opposite. So when you are running, walking, doing aerobics or the fitness programme of your choice make sure you give it your all during the first half.

8. Rest

In order to get fit quickly it is important to have scheduled rest days as well. These days are to help your body recover from training and will help to minimize any chance of injury as well.

9. Interval training

This is the golden ticket to helping you get fit quickly. Jan Helgerud, an exercise expert at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology says: “High-intensity interval training is twice as effective as normal exercise.” Put simply, the idea is to go fast, then go slow and keep repeating the cycle. You can do this jogging, cycling or swimming. You can jog for one minute then walk for 30 seconds and repeat the cycle for 10 to fifteen minutes. If you are cycling, then cycle at high resistance for 30 seconds and then 30 seconds at slow resistance. You will find this challenging in the beginning but will get better at it by doing interval training for 15 minutes to start off with and building up to a thirty-minute session.

10. Get enough sleep

For parents of babies and young children this can be extremely difficult. It is important to persevere with exercising even if you are tired and sleep deprived. It will improve the quality of the sleep you do get and your overall ability to cope. If possible try to schedule a short nap and make sure that on your rest days you do just that, rest!

The information contained in this site is not an alternative for specific, individual medical advice and guidance from your doctor or health care provider, where all surrounding conditions and circumstances are known. If you are worried about your own health, or your child’s well being, seek immediate medical advice. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website. Huggies® (and any healthcare professional, where relevant) intend for the information on this website to be up to date, timely and accurate but, to the extent that we are permitted by law, do not accept any liability or responsibility for claims, errors or omissions. Huggies® may amend the material at any time without notice.